Gm, Equinauts

Well, it’s not often we can write this newsletter after the days betting action is already done and dusted.

With the racing time’s aligning with a late breakfast, we can enjoy toast while hoping bets don't become toast.

We got both this morning lol:

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

❌ANTE-POST FAVE DOWN

Royal Ascot banker OMBUDSMAN will NOT run in next week's Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, despite being the strong af favourite for the £1 million race.

The Gosden’s have instead opted to give the Godolphin star colt some extra recovery time before he lines up to defend his Juddmonte International crown at York in August.

OMBUDSMAN put lengths on a class field in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, a performance that put him at the top of the rankings pile, but the five-year-old has already enjoyed a busy campaign, including victories in the Dubai Turf and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes.

Slim Thady said the decision was made to space out the horse’s races after an intensive first half of the season, adding that “you can’t do everything.”

With the big guy absent, GETHIN — who gave him a good race last time out — has moved to the head of the Eclipse betting. Wathnan are rumoured to have paid £4m for GETHIN, and that was after we knew he was a Group horse.

🗣️CONCERNED

There first thing we thought when France Galop changed the rules to allow geldings in the l’Arc was what will Aidan think of this.

Well, we didn’t need to wait long for his say lmao.

His argument is founded on the trainability of colts over geldings and the distinct disadvantage of having balls intact poses. Aidan is adamant geldings hold a significant training advantage over colts, describing them as easier to manage and prepare for competition. Shaggas has said this for a time tbf!

Further comment highlighted that the change could leave those training and entering colts at a big disadvantage potentially affecting the sport's breeding landscape in the long term.

We knew that one was coming!

The Ballydoyle trainer, a two-time Arc winner, said the race has traditionally served as a championship test and an important measure of breeding quality. In his view, the inclusion of geldings will fundamentally change the character of the contest.

We get it but equally, you’d want to buy a cover from a stallion that can beat everything. Aidan’s going to simply have to suck it up.

🌡️ RACE TIMES ADJUSTED

The BHA have continued to adapt fixture schedules in response to this hell of a heatwave.

Friday's meetings at Doncaster and Yarmouth have moved to morning starts so we all have a chance of hitting a few winners before lunch!

Doncaster's card will now run from 10.15am to 1.15pm, while Yarmouth's meeting will take place between 10.30am and 1.30pm. Windsor's Saturday fixture has also been switched from an afternoon slot to an evening programme.

The changes follow widespread disruption earlier in the week, including the cancellation of four meetings on Wednesday and revised start times at Nottingham and Newmarket on Thursday. Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 36°C at Doncaster and 35°C at Yarmouth.

Racecourses have introduced additional welfare measures for horses and staff, including cooling facilities, extra water supplies and accommodation arrangements should horses need to travel in the night.

Several postponed fixtures, including those from Kempton, Salisbury and Ffos Las, have been rescheduled for next week. Lovely stuff.

WE HIT ONLY 11 BETS OVER THE 5 DAYS OF ROYAL ASCOT AND HAD 3 WINNERS AND 2 PLACED. THE SHOW GOES ON! SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO ACCESS OUR DAILY BETS:

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